UW assistant Lupoi denies allegations in statement

Washington defensive line coach Tosh Lupoi denied allegations that he violated NCAA recruiting rules in a statement released through his Twitter account Thursday.

"I won't let these sorts of untrue attacks break my focus! I look forward to an honest & thorough investigation," Lupoi's statement reads. "It hurts to read these sorts of things, despite their suspicious motives, but I have faith in the process."

The University of Washington confirmed to the Associated Press Wednesday that it is investigating allegations from a Los Angeles Times report that Lupoi paid for tutoring and online classes for a recruit.

Interim Huskies coach Marques Tuiasosopo said Thursday that he expects Lupoi to be with the team through next week's Fight Hunger Bowl despite the investigation.

"That's all new and the appropriate people are handling that side of things, and as of right now he's still coaching with us," Tuiasosopo said. "As of right now, that's my expectation (that Lupoi will coach through the Hunger Bowl)."

According to the Times report, the recruit in question is Andrew Basham, a defensive lineman and shot putter from Lynnwood High School who signed a letter of intent in February with Washington but didn't qualify academically to enroll.

USC -- where Lupoi's former boss, Steve Sarkisian, recently took the head coaching job -- is also investigating the allegations, according to the report.